Why Ice Brady might be UConn’s X factor

In Edwards’ absence, the 6’3 forward Brady strung together the best consecutive games of her career, playing all 40 minutes in both the BIG EAST Tournament semis and final — averaging 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds — en route to All-Tournament Team honors. Later in the NCAA Tournament, Brady again stepped up for UConn, putting together key minutes in the Elite Eight versus USC and Final Four matchup against Iowa. This season, she wants to elevate her game again when it matters the most.

“Like Coach says, March is just — we’re a different team, so the stakes are higher obviously,” Brady told reporters following UConn’s 82-54 quarterfinal win over Villanova.

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This postseason, Brady is returning from an injury of her own — a shoulder injury that sidelined her for the month of February. Fortunately for UConn, she has impressed thus far in her return to the court.

“Ice is a different person today than she was before she hurt her shoulder,” Geno Auriemma said prior to her return against Marquette on March 2. “She spent the entire time really, really, really working her brains out. So then when she came back, this is the best she’s looked since she’s been at Connecticut.”

With an offensive triple threat of Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, the Huskies don’t rely on Brady to be a scorer — she averages just 4.2 ppg. When she does score, though, it’s usually from mid-or-long-range, forcing opponents to guard her away from the basket. Her presence opens up driving lanes, passing options and space for UConn’s scorers to get open looks.

In Sunday’s semifinal against Villanova, Brady hit a 3-pointer at the 6:32 mark in the second quarter, giving the Huskies a two-point lead, 30-28, after a back-and-forth start to the game. Although she didn’t score again, that shot was a turning point for the Huskies, forcing the Wildcats to defend Brady as a perimeter threat, creating more space for UConn’s scorers. Following that bucket, the Huskies went on a 17-9 run to take a 10-point lead into the locker room, a lead they never lost.

“[Ice] allows us to play differently. We can get [forward] Sarah [Strong] more rest. We can put her either with [center] Jana [El Alfy], with Sarah, by herself out there when we play really small. And the fact that she’s a threat to make a three like she did today … it’s a different dynamic. Ice has a lot of ability, and hopefully she’s able to channel that and be consistent with it,” Auriemma told reporters postgame.

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Even if its not apparent on the stat sheet, Brady’s teammates know the impact she has on the game. Freshman Sarah Strong, commenting on Brady’s performance postgame, kept her response short and sweet as usual — but revealed her appreciation of her more seasoned teammate.

“She has a great IQ and she’s just an overall good player. Makes everything easier,” Strong said, to which Paige Bueckers remarked, “that’s facts.”

Although she has struggled with consistency her entire collegiate career, Ice Brady has proven she has a knack for stepping up and being a difference maker in the biggest moments. She’s feeling confident with her development over time.

“The season wasn’t linear in my progress. I definitely had some dips,” Brady told reporters. “But overall I’m happy with where I’m at right now, the relationship I have with my teammates, my coaches, and with myself. That time that I was out [with injury], I feel like I was able to really kind of get my mental back together and focus.”

Ice Brady is the type of role player that can thrive in UConn’s team-first culture. She was undeterred when she was moved out of the starting lineup in December, assuming an off-the-bench role that suits her and the team well. She’s not worried about getting the glory, getting the most minutes or padding the stat sheet. As UConn looks ahead to the conference tournament championship and the NCAA Tournament, Brady is an underrated x-factor in the Huskies’ quest for a 12th national title.

“We want to win,” Brady said. “We have one goal in mind.”